FIVE out of the six parliamentary constituencies across Cornwall will hold their election counts after close of polls on the Thursday evening, it was announced today.

Cornwall had originally planned to begin all its counts on the Friday morning to reflect the logistical difficulties of a large rural county.

But now St Ives and the Isles of Scilly will be the only constituency to postpone their count until the day after the general election to allow time for the ballot boxes to be transferred from the islands back to the mainland.

Announcing the decision, Cornwall’s Returning Officer Kevin Lavery said he had taken note of the views of Parliament and had made the decision to remove the current uncertainty and to reflect the confidence he has in Cornwall’s electoral processes and staff.

He added: “The special circumstances surrounding the Isles of Scilly mean that it is not possible to stage this count immediately after the close of polls as the ballot boxes have to be transported to the count centre on the mainland. I originally considered delaying all the counts until the Friday so that all six could be carried out at the same time, but have decided instead to go ahead with the other five counts on the Thursday.”

There will be two count centres in Cornwall – each of which will house the counts for three parliamentary constituencies.

The count for the constituencies of St Ives, Camborne and Redruth and Truro and Falmouth will be held at the Carn Brea leisure centre in Pool, while the count for the constituencies of St Austell and Newquay, North Cornwall and South East Cornwall will be held at the Falcon Ridge Sports Academy located in Dobwalls.